Extra Services

Challenge to lay judge system don’t save rapist

Date Posted: 2010-10-14

A 31-year-old accused of taking a woman to his hotel room and raping her argued the lay judge system was inappropriate, his attorneys tried to get the case tossed out, but the judge overruled everyone and found him guilty in Naha District Court.

Naoya Namihira tried to get the charges dropped, but instead found the judge dropping a hefty eight-year prison term on him. “Namihira, we will give you the decision now,” the judge told him. “You are lying to us. You just wanted to escape punishment and be free.” Namihira had argued the sex was consensual, but the judge said “we believe her more than you. You threatened her with violence and raped her. Look at her clothes,” the judge added. “How come her clothes were so heavily damaged if she was agreeable to having sex with you. Clothes shouldn’t be so heavily damaged.”

Namihira also has sent an email to his victim, apologizing for raping her. The victim says she now has Post Traumatic Stress Disorder now.